Big Sky High School

Big Sky High School

BIG SKY HIGH SCHOOL

CHORAL DEPARTMENT

2017-2018

STUDENT

HANDBOOK

BIG SKY HIGH SCHOOL

CHORAL DEPARTMENT

2017-2018

Welcome to a wonderful new school year and to the Big Sky Choral Program. Please look through this handbook to understand choral department expectations and policies and procedures. Parents and students, please sign, date, and return the form in the back of the handbook by Sept 8th.

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Director: Nancy Labbe

Office Phone: (406)728-2400 x 8036

Email:

The quickest way to communicate with me is via email - easy for me to check throughout the day. At the end of each day, I’ll also check my school voice mail. Please do not hesitate to communicate any concerns or questions you may have. I’m glad to hear from parents.

BSHS CHOIR CLASS OFFERINGS

The curricular offerings for the BSHS Choral Department are as follows:

Chorale: by consent of instructor – for female voices primarily in grades 9

and10 but open to any grade level.

Men’s Choir: by consent of instructor – for male voices primarily in grades 9

and 10 but open to any grade level.

Treble Choir: by audition only – for female voices primarily in grades 10 -12.

Aesirian Choir: by audition only – mixed chorus of students primarily in

grades 11 -12.

Extra-Curricular Ensembles:

Sky Blues:by audition only – extra-curricular, elite mixed ensemble of 16 - 24 students primarily in grades 11 and 12. Students must be a member of Aesirian choir in order to audition.

Bel Canto: by audition only. This extra-curricular, elite treble ensemble will be comprised of 8-16 voices. Students must be a member of the Treble Choir or Aesirian Choir in order to audition.

BIG SKY HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR

Choir Class Rule:

There is only one rule.

Be respectful of everyone and everything, always.

Respectful students are prepared and ready to sing every day.

Respectful students speak kindly, and at the appropriate time.

Respectful students care for their music, equipment and rehearsal space. Please do not bring food or drink (except water) into the choir room, or chew gum.

Respectful students are appreciative of the positive contributions of those around them.

Respectful students are open-minded and hard-working.

Respectful students always look for ways to learn.

Respectful students pay attention to and work on vocal health.

Respectful students value arts education.

Respectful students seek to be better, never embittered.

Respectful students are positive leaders.

Respectful students try to do their best every day.

Student Evaluation and Grading

Grading Policy

Choir is unique to the curriculum as it is a performance-based organization. Students involved in choir must understand from the onset that each performance and rehearsal activity must be considered a necessary part of the class curriculum and will be treated as such. It is the philosophy of the department that each student is responsible not only to him or herself, but is responsible to the organization as a whole and to the other students for participation in performances.

Grades in choir are earned through four categories. Daily Participation and Attendance, Concert Performances and Enrichment, and Written and Vocal Assessments

I. Daily Participation (35%): 10 points/day. Daily attendance in choir is extremely important. When a class is missed, it’s impossible to recreate the rehearsal experience on one’s own. “In class” work will consist of warm-up exercises, rehearsal of concert/festival material, note taking, sight reading, and various other musical exercises. Students have the opportunity to earn up to 10 points per class meeting. Students must come prepared ON TIME with a pencil and music folder daily. Additionally, one must use great posture (sitting and standing), good focused rehearsal technique, active/strong singing, and limited talking to receive all 10 points.

Tardies: The first three tardies within a semester will not affect your grade. For eachadditional tardy within a semester, two points will be deducted from your Daily Participation grade. Those with consistent tardies will be referred to the office and risk removal from the class.

Excused Absences: The first three absences within a semester will not affect your grade. For each additional excused absence, you will receive a zero for your daily participation grade. Make up work may be assigned for any rehearsal missed due to excused absences. It is the student’s responsibility to ask for a makeup assignment immediately upon return.

Unexcused Absences: Students will receive a zero for unexcused absences with no opportunity for makeup; grounds for removal from class.

School-Sponsored Absences: These will not affect your grade. Please check in to gather material you may have missed.

II. Performances (40%): Performance attendance is considered to equal a major exam in the music area. Each student satisfactorily participating in a performance and arriving on time in the proper attire will be awarded the percentage grade of 100% for that event. Students will be notified of all performance dates at least one month before that performance or sooner, if possible. Each infraction (i.e., improper attire, tardiness, improper performance behavior, etc.) lowers the grade.

Absences from performances may be excused by the instructor in the event of serious illness or family emergency. School activities conflicting may also be excused if arranged IN ADVANCE between the instructors involved. Excused absences must be verified in advance by a written note or phone call from a parent or guardian. Excused absences must be made up using materials assigned by the instructor within two weeks of the missed performance. The student is responsible for getting the assignment from the instructor. A percentage grade will be awarded based upon the results of that material. Material not completed within the time limit, and unexcused absences will result in the percentage grade

of “0” for that event (letter grade of F).

Please keep in mind that if you have a job, you must let your employer know of the concert dates NOW in order to ensure there is no conflict. “I have to work.” is not an excused absence from a performance. We all need to be committed to our performing group and not let other members down by not showing up!

III. Written and/or Vocal Assessment (15%): Points will vary from ensemble to ensemble. Written worksheets, quizzes, tests and/or vocal tests will be given throughout each semester.

IV. MusicEnrichment(10%): Students get to decide how they would like to earn their Music Enrichment points. Enrichment should come from activities or experiences that help you become a better musician or performer and can be accrued during the course of the semester. All choir members are responsible for earning 20 points/semester in this category. Points can be earned by:

  • Member of an official musical group outside of the school day (Sky Blues, Bel Canto, Bella Harmonia, church choir, etc); (20 points)
  • All State Choir Member (20 points)
  • All NW Choir Member (20 points)
  • All-Star Honor Choir (20 points)
  • Weekly Private Music Lessons (2 points/lesson)
  • Membership in the BSHS Band or Orchestra (20 points)
  • Solo or ensemble at District Music Festival (20 points)
  • Musical Theatre – be a member of a musical cast (20 points)
  • Preparing All State or All NW Audition (5 points)
  • Attending other concerts at high school or collegiate level, professional concerts, or community-type concerts. Turn in the concert program or ticket with your name on it; or write a quick report of what you heard (5 points)
  • Practice singing at home and document your time with your parent’s signature; turn in for points. (2 points/hour)
  • Practice room rehearsal – document with Ms. Labbe (2 points/hour)
  • Other music projects as approved by Ms. Labbe – compose music, performances in the community (eg, national anthem), performing at church, music listening/reflection documentation, etc. Points to be determined.

Voice Lessons

There isno better or faster way to improve as a singer! BSHS choir members are highly encouraged to take private voice lessons. There are a number of fine teachers in our area. Voice lessons usually take place weekly for a half-hour.

Contact Ms. Labbe for a list of local voice teachers.

Performance Attire

The following items are needed for any formal performance or concert:

Men’s Choir:Black dress pants

Black dress shoes and black socks

Black dress shirt (provided for you)

Neck tie (provided for you)

Chorale: Black dress provided for you

Close-toed, black shoes (no flip-flops, sandals, boots)

Treble Choir: Black dress– provided for you

Close-toed, flat black shoes

Aesirian:Choir robe – provided for you

Women – close-toed, flat, black dress shoes

Men – black dress pants, black dress shoes & black socks

Sky Blues & Bel Canto:Provided for your use.

Students are NOT REQUIRED to purchase any attire. If certain items are not attainable for a student, the director must be informed well before the performance. Also, if there is any question about the appropriateness of attire, the student should consult the director.

All attire should be pressed, clean and professional looking!

Please do not wear perfume or cologne to concerts. Some people are allergic or very sensitive to these. When in a confined space, it’s important to be considerate of others. No perfumes but deodorant is a MUST!

BIG SKY CHORAL MUSIC

LETTER AWARD REQUIREMENTS

Because of the great amount of time and effort exerted by many Big Sky Choir students in their musical activities, a letter award is given to afford these students due recognition and incentive. In order to letter in choir, a student must achieve perfect concert attendance AND must obtain a minimum of 250 points during the academic year through any of the following areas:

Festivals:

  1. District or State Ensemble – 25 points per performance plus 75 points for a Superior rating.
  2. District or State Solo – 50 points per performance plus 100 points for a Superior rating on a piano or vocal solo.

Honors:

  1. All-State Choir Member – 150 points.
  2. All-Northwest Choir Member – 200 points
  3. Audition recording for either event – 10 points

4. Member in good standing of Sky Blues Vocal Ensemble – 175 points; (deduct 10 points for each unexcused absence from rehearsals & performances. More than 3 unexcused absences may result in removal from the group and complete loss of Lettering Points.)

5. Member in good standing of Bel Canto vocal ensemble – 100 points;

(see info. above)

6. Member of the All-Star Honor Choir – 3-day commitment – 100 points

Other:

  1. Summer Music Camp – 5 points per day
  2. Designated Music-Related Activity – 5 points
  3. Private Lessons – 5 points per lesson (50 points maximum)
  4. Duties performed for the benefit of the group (director’s discretion) – 10 points
  5. Member of the cast, crew, or pit orchestra for all-school musical – 50 points

Points are accumulated throughout each school year but not carried over from year to year.

Big Sky High School Choral Department

2017-18

We acknowledge that we read and understood the BSHS Choral Dept. Handbook and will make every effort to comply with its contents.

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(student signature)(parent signature)

Emergency Information

1. Student’s Name______Grade Level______

2. Parent(s)/Guardian Name ______

3. Address ______Home phone______

4. Work phone(s)______

5. Medical Information: allergies, medical conditions, etc. ______

______

6. Insurance Information______

In case of illness or serious injury, I give medical authorities permission to treat my son or daughter.

Date:______Signature ______

Parent or Guardian

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